Disc pack storage apparatus

ABSTRACT

A storage apparatus, for computer disc packs or the like, comprising a central upstanding post and two vertical rows of trays mounted on the post for receiving and storing the disc packs. The two tray rows are pivotally mounted on the post with the trays of one row all mounted on essentially a common vertical pivot axis and the trays of the other row all mounted on another essentially common vertical pivot axis spaced circumferentially on the post from the first axis. Each tray is individually pivoted on the post so that a selected tray from either row may be pivoted into the circumferential space between the rows to provide access to the disc pack on that tray. A gang cord interconnects the trays of each row and operates to permit displacement of only one tray at a time from that row into the circumferential access space with the displaced tray being automatically returned to its stored position in the row in response to movement of another tray of that row into the circumferential access space.

United States Patent Osojnak [is] 3,654,878 1 Apr.11,l972

[54] DISC PACK STORAGE APPARATUS [21] Appl. No.: 888,309

[52] U.S. Cl ..108/103, 108/105, 108/142,

248/417, 248/418 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47b 11/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..312/319, 197,202; 108/139,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,810,220 10/1957 Koch ..49/236 1 361,509 1/1968 Levenberg ..312/221 3,378,321 5/1968 Frederick et a1 ..312/319 3,468,428

9/1969 Reibold 108/103 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette Attomey-Donald L. Wood [57] ABSTRACT A storage apparatus, for computer disc packs or the like, comprising a central upstanding post and two vertical rows of trays mounted on the post for receiving and storing the disc packs. The two tray rows are pivotally mounted on the post with the trays of one row all mounted on essentially a common vertical pivot axis and the trays of the other row all mounted on another essentially common vertical pivot axis spaced circumferentially on the post from the first axis. Each tray is individually pivoted on the post so that a selected tray from either row may be pivoted into the circumferential space between the rows to provide access to the disc pack on that tray. A gang cord interconnects the trays of each row and operates to permit displacement of only one tray at a time from that row into the circumferential access space with the displaced tray being automatically returned to its stored position in the row in response to movement of another tray of that row into the circumferential access space.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 27 L/ INVENTOR. ,50 773 Mfifa krxk PATENTEDAPR H 1912 3,654.8 78

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

1 TfOFA/JX DISC PACK STORAGE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for storing computer disc packs. Discs containing magnetically recorded information for input to computers are now commonly used in the computer industry. These discs are commonly arranged in packs with each pack comprising a series of discs mounted in vertically spaced relation on a common spindle and the spindle and disc assembly received in a suitable housing or storage container. The resulting package is called a disc pack. These packs have typically been stored in makeshift, ad hoc fashion since no convenient, efficient storage apparatus specifically designed for disc packs has heretofore been available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide an efiicient, convenient storage apparatus specifically designed to accommodate disc packs.

The storage apparatus of the invention comprises a central upstanding post and a plurality of disc pack support members or trays each defining an upper support surface to support a disc pack placed thereon. Mounting means are provided to mount the trays in two groups on the post with the first group comprising a series of vertically spaced trays mounted for individual pivotal movement about a common vertical axis and the second group comprising a corresponding series of vertically spaced trays mounted for individual pivotal movement about a second common vertical axis circumferentially spaced about the post from the first axis. The trays of each group normally assume a stored position in which all of the trays of each group are aligned vertically with each other; the aligned stored position of the trays is defined by stop means which also function to preclude pivotal movement of the trays in one tray group in a clockwise direction about the post and preclude pivotal movement of the trays in the other group in a counterclockwise direction about the post. When in their stored, vertically aligned position the two tray groups are spaced circumferentially from each other about the post to define a circumferential access space therebetween into which an individual tray from one group may be moved by counterclockwise pivotal movement and into which an individual tray from the other group may be moved by clockwise pivotal movement, thereby allowing the trays to be moved individually into the access space to allow individual access to the stored disc packs.

According to a further feature of the invention, gang means interconnect the trays of each tray group. The gang means operate to allow pivotal movement of a tray from one group from its stored position into the access position and to return that tray to its stored position in response to pivotal movement of another tray from that group into the access position.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the'drawings in which:

FIG. I is a somewhat schematic view of a typical disc pack;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a disc pack storage apparatus embodying features of the invention;

FIGS. 3, 4 and are cross sectional views taken on lines 3 3, 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view looking in the opposite direction from FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the apparatus of FIGS. 2-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention storage apparatus is specifically designed for the storage of computer disc packs of the general type seen in FIG. 1. A typical disc pack 10 comprises a base 12, a central upstanding spindle 14, and a plurality of magnetic discs 16 arranged in vertically spaced relation on spindle 14 to allow a readout head (not shown) to pick selected magnetically recorded information off of a selected disc as that disc is rotated by a suitable turntable. When not in use, a cover 20 having a handle 22 is placed on the discs and coacts with base 12 to define a closed storage structure for the discs.

The invention apparatus for storing disc packs includes a base structure 24, an upstanding central post 26, and a plurality of support members or trays 28.

Base structure 24 comprises a pair of steel bars 30 formed into a shallow V configuration with a flat 30a provided at the apex of the V. Flats 30a of bars 30 are welded to opposite faces of a stub post 31 of rectangular cross section. An adjustment foot 32 is screw threaded into each free end of each bar 30.

Post 26 comprises a steel tube of rectangular cross section having a series of rectangular apertures 34 at vertically spaced locations on the front post face 36 and a corresponding series of rectangular apertures 38 on the rear post face 40. Post 26 is larger than stub post 31 and is fitted in telescopic fashion over stub post 31 to support post 26 in a rigid, upstanding position.

Each support member or tray 28 is a wire form structure comprising a steel wire hoop or rim 42, a plurality of parallel grid bars 44 arranged in chordal fashion with respect to rim 42 and welded at their ends to the underside of rim 42, and a mounting bar 46 having a main bar portion 46a welded to the underside of, and bisecting, grid bars 44 and a downwardly cranked pivot bar portion 46b, terminating in a reduced diameter lower end portion 460 separated from portion 4612 by a shoulder 46d. The grid bar nearest pivot bar portion 46b has a hook shaped ends which cross and recross rim 42 to define therewith a guide loop 47 at each end of the grid bar. A rectangular plate 42a is welded to the forward edge of each rim 42 in downwardly depending relation to the rim to provide a handle to facilitate movement of the tray. Each try 28 is of a size and shape to support a disc pack 10 with the disc pack resting on the support surface defined by the upper sides of grid bars 44 and rim 42 encircling the disc pack to preclude lateral movement of the pack on the tray. Disc packs 10 are seen in phantom on the lower left hand trays of FIG. 2. Trays 28 are pivotally mounted in two groups on post 26 by a series of vertically spaced brackets 48. Each bracket 48 comprises a sheet metal stamping having a main body web portion 48a, left and right inturned side portions 48b, top inturned portion 48c and bottom inturned portion 48d. A pair of laterally spaced holes 49 is provided in each top bracket portion 480 and a corresponding pair of laterally spaced holes 50 is provided in each bottom bracket portion 48d.

Each bracket is secured to post 26 by a screw bolt 51 passing through a hole in web portion 48a and then through a pair of aligned holes 34, 38 in post faces 36, 40 for threaded engagement with a nut 52. The bolt 51 securing the lowermost bracket 48 also passes through aligned apertures 31a, 31b in stub post 31 to positively secure post 26 to stub post 31. Side bracket portions 48b embrace post 26 to preclude lateral movement of the brackets and top and bottom bracket portions 48c, 48d abut front post face 36 to space each bracket web portion 48a from that face. A pair of nylon bushings 54 are received in each top bracket portion hole 49 and a corresponding pair of nylon bushings 56 are received in each bottom bracket portion hole 50.

Each bracket 48 pivotally mounts a pair of trays 28 on the post 26 with the pivot bar portion 46b of a tray pivotally received in each upper and lower bushing set 54, 56; each bracket thus mounts one tray for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis defined by one bushing set 54,56, and

mounts another tray for pivotal movement about another generally vertical axis defined by the other bushing set 54, 56. Each lower bushing 54 is slightly smaller in diameter than the upper bushing and journally receives reduced diameter lower end portion 460 with shoulder 46d resting in the top face of bushing 54 to provide a positioning stop for cranked portion 46b. Each lower bushing 54 is set slightly forwardly (as viewed in FIG. 4) and laterally outwardly (as viewed in FIG. 5) with respect to the corresponding upper bushing. Each tray therefore moves in a sloping plane normal to the axis defined by the related bushing set 54, 56. Each tray assumes a top dead center position when its mounting bar moves into alignment with an imaginary line (identified as TDC in FIG. 5) passing in plan view through the centers of the upper and lower bushings. Movement of the tray in either direction from its TDC line introduces a gravity component tending to continue and accelerate that movement. Thus, if the left hand tray in FIG. 5 is moved clockwise from its TDC position, it will tend to continue to move in that direction until it reaches the solid line, stored position of FIG. 2 defined by abutting engagement of rim 42 with post 26. Similarly, if the right hand tray in FIG. 5 is moved counterclockwise from its TDC position, it will tend to continue to move in that direction until it reaches its stored position as defined by abutting engagement of its rim 42 with post 26. If either the left or right tray is moved inwardly from its TDC position (i.e., counterclockwise for the left tray of FIG. 5 or clockwise for the right hand tray), it will tend to continue to move in that direction until its rim moves into abutting engagement with the rim of the other tray.

Brackets 48 thus serve to divide the trays into two groups with the first group comprising a first series of vertically spaced trays mounted for independent pivotal movement on post 26 about a first series of generally vertically aligned axes, and the second group comprising a second series of vertically spaced trays mounted for independent pivotal movement on post 26 about a second series of generally vertically aligned axes circumferentially spaced about post 26 from the axes of the first tray group. The trays of each group normally assume a stored position defined by the abutting engagement of the tray rims with post 26; in their stored position, each tray in each group is vertically aligned with each other tray in that group so that the trays are arranged in two vertically aligned rows as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, with a circumferential access space defined between the stored rows into which a tray may be pivotally moved from either row to provide access to the disc pack stored on that tray. A tray is seen in phantom in FIG. 3 in the access position. The trays resist movement out of their stored positions by virtue of the gravity factor created by the inclination of the pivot axes; as they are pivoted out of their stored positions they move uphill until they reach their TDC position, whereafter they move downhill with a gravity assist into their recess position with such downhill movement being terminated by abutment of the rim of the moving tray with the rim of the adjacent tray.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, each bolt 50, in addition to securing a bracket 48 to front post face 36, also serves to secure a bracket 58 to the rear post face 40. Each bracket 58 has a triangular main body portion 60, an inturned finger portion 62 piloting in a hole 38 in rear post face 40, and an outturned flange portion 64 having a pair of laterally spaced holes 66, 68. The brackets are arranged with finger portion 62 uppermost with the exception of the topmost bracket which is arranged with flange portion 64 uppermost. There is no bracket 48 corresponding to topmost bracket 58 so that the topmost bolt 51 serves only to secure topmost bracket 58 to the rear face of the post.

A gang cord 70 (best seen in FIG. 6) of suitable flexible material is tied at its upper end in hole 66 of upper bracket 58 and is thereafter threaded downwardly through guide loop 47 of the upper left tray, through hole 66 of the next bracket 58, then through successive tray guide loops 47 and bracket holes 66 with the lower end of the cord tied in hole 66 of lowermost bracket 58. Similarly, a gang cord 72 is tied in hole 68 of upper bracket 58 and is threaded downwardly through the guide loops of the right hand tray group and the bracket holes 68 with the lower end tied in hole 68 of lowermost bracket 58.

Each gang cord is just long enough to allow one tray of the group controlled by that cord to move into its access position between the two groups; with one tray of the group moved into access position, essentially all of the slack in that cord is taken up. If another tray in that group is now moved into the access position, the first or displaced tray will be automatically returned to its stored position in response to the outward movement of the other tray. The position of the gang cords with one tray in each group disposed in the access position is seen in FIG. 6. If a tray from one group is moved to its access position with the corresponding tray in the other group already occupying the access position, that outwardly pivoting tray will bump the tray in the access position and move that tray uphill to and past its TDC position, whereafter it will coast downhill to its stored position in abutment with post 26.

An alternate group cord arrangement is shown in FIG. 7. Here, independent cords 70 and 72 are replaced by a single double length cord 74 which is tied at its lower ends in holes 66, 68 of the bottom bracket 58 and trains at its upper end around a pulley 76 rotatably journalled on the topmost bolt 51. Gang cord 74 is just long enough to allow one tray from either group to move to the access position; if another tray from either row is thereafter moved to the access position, the tray previously occupying the access position will be automatically returned to its stored position.

A typical disc pack storage apparatus according to the invention might have an over-all height of approximately 5 feet with perhaps 10 or II trays in each row or group for a total storage capacity of 20 or 22 disc packs per invention storage unit. This storage density is significantly greater than existing storage apparatus. In addition, each disc pack is individually suspended rather than being indiscriminately stacked, and each disc pack is readily and individually accessible without moving or otherwise disturbing any other disc pack.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

I claim:

I. A disc pack storage apparatus comprising:

A. a central upstanding post member;

B. a plurality of circular disc pack support trays;

C. means mounting said circular trays on said post for selective pivotal movement about said post,

1. said mounting means disposing each said tray in a position relative to the central axis of said post such that, in consideration of the diameter of the tray, said tray, in any position of selective pivotal adjustment about said post, occupies a sector representing approximately one-third of the circular area around said post, and

2. said trays being arranged on said post in first and second groups of vertically aligned trays with said groups normally respectively occupying first and second ones of the available one-third sectors about said post and leaving the third sector between said first and second sectors free for access purposes;

D. stop means for said first group of trays precluding clockwise movement of said first group trays from said first sector into said second sector, and defining a stowed position for said first group trays within said first sector;

E. stop means for said second group of trays precluding counterclockwise movement of said second group trays from said second sector into said first sector, and defining a stowed position for said second group trays within said second sector;

F. means resisting counterclockwise pivotal movement of said first group trays out of their stowed positions within said first sector toward said third, access sector, but operative in response to a predetermined amount of such counterclockwise pivotal movement of one on said first group trays to thereafter bias that tray toward said third, access sector to thereby assist movement of that tray into said access sector; and

G. means resisting clockwise pivotal movement of said second group trays out of their stowed positions within said second sector toward said third, access sector, but operative in response to a predetermined amount of said clockwise pivotal movement of one of said second group trays to thereafter bias that tray toward said third, access sector to thereby assist movement of that tray into said access sector.

2. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

H. said trays are arranged on said post in opposing pairs with each pair comprising a tray from said first group and a tray from said second group disposed at the same vertical level on said post, so that as a tray from said first group is moved out of said first sector and into said third, access sector its periphery moves into abutment with the periphery of the corresponding tray disposed within said second sector to provide a stop means for said first group tray in said access sector, and the stowed first group tray similarly acts to define an access sector stop means for the corresponding second group tray.

3. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

H. each tray includes a downwardly depending pivot shaft adjacent the periphery of the tray; and

I. said resisting and biasing means for each tray comprises means on said post defining a journal for said pivot shaft with the axis of said journal inclined with respect to the central vertical axis of said post in a sense to provide a top dead center position for said tray intermediate its stowed sector position and its access sector position, whereby said tray has a resistive gravity component as it moves upwardly out of its stowed sector toward its top dead center position and acquires an assistive gravity component as it moves beyond said top dead center position toward its access sector position.

4. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:

J said journal defining means for said trays in toto comprise a plurality of vertically spaced brackets secured to the side of said post confronting said third, access sector, each such bracket defining a pair of circumferentially spaced journals with the journal nearest said first sector inclined to provide a top dead center position intermediate said first and third sectors and the journal nearest said second sector inclined to provide a top dead center position intermediate said second and third sectors. 5. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

H. said precluding stop means are defined by the abutting engagement of the periphery of a tray with said post as the tray arrives at its stowed position within said first or second sector.

6. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 1 and further including:

H. gang means interconnecting the trays of said first group and the trays of said second group and operative to 1. allow pivotal movement of any given tray from its stowed sector to said access sector and 2. return said given tray to its stowed sector in response to movement of another tray from the same group as said given tray to said access sector. 7. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 6 wherein:

I. said gang means, for each tray group, comprises a cord member extending generally parallel to said post and slidably engaging each of said trays, each said cord member having sufiicient slack with each tray of the related tray group in its stowed sector to allow one of the trays from that group to be moved from its stowed sector into said access sector and assuming a generally taut condition with said one tray in said access sector so that movement of any other tray from that group into said access sector causes said cord member to move said one tray back to its stowed sector.

8. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 7 wherein:

J. each of said trays includes a downwardly depending pivot shaft adjacent the periphery of the tray;

K. a plurality of vertically spaced brackets are secured to the side of said post confronting said third sector with each such bracket defining a pair of circumferentially spaced journals for respective receipt of the pivot shafts of a tray from said first group and a tray from said second group;

L. a plurality of guide brackets are secured in vertically spaced relation to the side of said post opposite said confronting side with a single fastener member passing through said post to secure a respective journal bracket to the confronting face of the post and a respective guide bracket to the opposite side of the post; and

M. each of said cord members is secured to said post at its upper and lower ends and passes intermediate its ends alternately through said guide members and the trays of the related tray group. 

1. A disc pack storage apparatus comprising: A. a central upstanding post member; B. a plurality of circular disc pack support trays; C. means mounting said circular trays on said post for selective pivotal movement about said post,
 1. said mounting means disposing each said tray in a position relative to the central axis of said post such that, in consideration of the diameter of the tray, said tray, in any position of selective pivotal adjustment about said post, occupies a sector representing approximately one-third of the circular area around said post, and
 2. said trays being arranged on said post in first and second groups of vertically aligned trays with said groups normally respectively occupying first and second ones of the available one-third sectors about said post and leaving the third sector between said first and second sectors free for access purposes; D. stop means for said first group of trays precluding clockwise movement of said first group trays from said first sector into said second sector, and defining a stowed position for said first group trays within said first sector; E. stop means for said second group of trays precluding counterclockwise movement of said second group trays from said second sector into said first sector, and defining a stowed position for said second group trays within said second sector; F. means resisting counterclockwise pivotal movement of said first group trays out of their stowed positions within said first sector toward said third, access sector, but operative in response to a predetermined amount of such counterclockwise pivotal movement of one on said first group trays to thereafter bias that tray toward said third, access sector to thereby assist movement of that tray into said access sector; and G. means resisting clockwise pivotal movement of said second group trays out of their stowed positions within said second sector toward said third, access sector, but operative in response to a predetermined amount of said clockwise pivotal movement of one of said second group trays to thereafter bias that tray toward said third, access sector to thereby assist movement of that tray into said access sector.
 2. said trays being arranged on said post in first and second groups of vertically aligned trays with said groups normally respectively occupying first and second ones of the available one-third sectors about said post and leaving the third sector between said first and second sectors free for access purposes; D. stop means for said first group of trays precluding clockwise movement of said first group trays from said first sector into said second sector, and defining a stowed position for said first group trays within said first sector; E. stop means for said second group of trays precluding counterclockwise movement of said second group trays from said second sector into said first sector, and defining a stowed position for said second group trays within said second sector; F. means resisting counterclockwise pivotal movement of said first group trays out of their stowed positions within said first sector toward said third, access sector, but operative in response to a predetermined amount of such counterclockwise pivotal movement of one on said first group trays to thereafter bias that tray toward said third, access sector to thereby assist movement of that tray into said access sector; and G. means resisting clockwise pivotal movement of said second group trays out of their stowed positions within said second sector toward said third, access sector, but operative in response to a predetermined amount of said clockwise pivotal movement of one of said second group trays to thereafter bias that tray toward said third, access sector to thereby assist movement of that tray into said access sector.
 2. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: H. said trays are arranged on said post in opposing pairs with each pair comprising a tray from said first group and a tray from said second group disposed at the same vertical level on said post, so that as a tray from said first group is moved out of said first sector and into said third, access sector its periphery moves into abutment with the periphery of the corresponding tray disposed within said second sector to provide a stop means for said first group tray in said access sector, and the stowed first group tray similarly acts to define an access sector stop means for the corresponding second group tray.
 2. return said given tray to its stowed sector in response to movement of another tray from the same group as said given tray to said access sector.
 3. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: H. each tray includes a downwardly depending pivot shaft adjacent the periphery of the tray; and I. said resisting and biasing means for each tray comprises means on said post defining a journal for said pivot shaft with the axis of said journal inclined with respect to the central vertical axis of said post in a sense to provide a top dead center position for said tray intermediate its stowed sector position and its access sector position, whereby said tray has a resistive gravity component as it moves upwardly out of its stowed sector toward its top dead center position and acquires an assistive gravity component as it moves beyond said top dead center position toward its access sector position.
 4. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 3 wherein: J. said journal defining means for said trays in toto comprise a plurality of vertically spaced brackets secured to the side of said post confronting said third, access sector, each such bracket defining a pair of circumferentially spaced journals with the journal nearest said first sector inclined to provide a top dead center position intermediate said first and third sectors and the journal nearest said second sector inclined to provide a top dead center position intermediate said second and third sectors.
 5. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: H. said precluding stop means are defined by the abutting engagement of the periphery of a tray with said post as the tray arrives at its stowed position within said first or second sector.
 6. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: H. gang means interconnecting the trays of said first group and the trays of said second group and operative to
 7. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 6 wherein: I. said gang means, for each tray group, comprises a cord member extending generally parallel to said post and slidably engaging each of said trays, each said cord member having sufficient slack with each tray of the related tray group in its stowed sector to allow one of the trays from that group to be moved from its stowed sector into said access sector and assuming a generally taut condition with said one tray in said access sector so that movement of any other tray from that group into said access sector causes said cord member to move said one tray back to its stowed sector.
 8. A disc pack storage apparatus according to claim 7 wherein: J. each of said trays includes a downwardly depending pivot shaft adjacent the periphery of the tray; K. a plurality of vertically spaced brackets are secured to the side of said post confronting said third sector with each such bracket defining a pair of circumferentially spaced journals for respective receipt of the pivot shafts of a tray from said first group and a tray from said second group; L. a plurality of guide brackets are secured in vertically spaced relation to the side of said post opposite said confronting side with a single fastener member passing through said post to secure a respective journal bracket to the confronting face of the post and a respective guide bracket to the opposite side of the post; and M. each of said cord members is secured to said post at its upper and lower ends and passes intermediate its ends alternately through said guide members and the trays of the related tray group. 